Draft seeks welfare standard for goats

The first animal welfare standard on goat raising and cashmere collecting in China is being drafted and may be adopted by the end of the year.

Ayongxi, chairman of the International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare, said the standard will promote pasture raising of goats, an internationally recognized practice, to give them more favorable living conditions, but proper indoor raising will also be allowed.

The standard will also give detailed regulations on collecting cashmere from goats - including the tools to be used, methods and frequency - to minimize their pain and discomfort, he said.

The standard, being drafted by the committee, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation, will be in line with international standards and suit China's own conditions, he said.

"It is urgent to formulate such a standard with more and more people giving importance to animal welfare, realizing animals have the right to live happily, as humans do," Ayongxi said. "We welcome any suggestions from home and abroad to help us make an internationally advanced standard."

In most areas in China, cashmere is collected through scissoring, which causes the goats no pain. However, improper collection methods, such as using combs to remove cashmere, are found in some places and can hurt the goats.

Tian Kechuan, a chief scientist at Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, said discussion and revisions will follow after the initial draft, which is expected to be completed in two months. The standard is likely to be adopted at the end of the year.

"The standard will have a big impact on the cashmere industry in China and internationally," he said. "It will also promote international recognition of cashmere produced in China."

China is the world's largest producer and exporter of cashmere, producing about 80 percent of the world's total, with 70 percent of domestic production exported, according to Tian. Welfare in goat raising and cashmere collection in China has been improving in recent years, he said.

Zhao Xinhao, deputy general manager of Yuteng Cashmere, a major cashmere supplier based in Qinghe, Hebei province, said the draft should reflect existing international standards.

"Formulation of the standard should take into consideration the interests of goatherds so they are encouraged to practice animal welfare while collecting cashmere," he said. "Meanwhile, the interests of consumers and enterprises should also be considered so those who follow the standard can benefit."